From the womb, our mothers cry out with joy Happy at the thought of having a daughter  For their silent prayers have been heard  To have someone to hold dear   And the fathers who look forward to having a daughter Shout like a town crier on the street Others watch, a fool they all think he is  But they know what they seek A daughter, a symbol of riches, love and blessings – No lies have been told But daughters, do you know?   Mother and father shout “You are all equal in this

Her lungs stung with each breath she took in, the air like needles against her cheeks as she sped over the cobblestones. The sun had long set, the moon had not shown itself that night, and the sky hung heavy, as if smothered under damp wool. With each strong lash of wind leaving her face raw, she clung onto her scarf tighter, slick with mist. She hurried to reach the faculty library in time. The only thing aiding her vision were the streetlights, bleeding their reflection int